Best of the City 2015 - 405 Magazine

Best of the City 2015

Presenting 110 of the greatest hits to be found in central Oklahoma; you voted, we counted, and here they are. From antique store to charity event, defunct dining establishment to anticipated future development – and with a few of our staff selections added for good measure – we’re happy to share these high points with you.

 

The Results Of Our 3rd Annual Poll Are In, And The People Have Spoken! From Food To Fun, People To Projects, We’ve Cataloged Your Favorite Parts Of Living In The Oklahoma City Metro And Surroundings Plus Thrown In Our Two Cents With Our Editors’ Choice Winners. Majority Rules In This Fair Democracy, So Without Further Ado, Your Winners …


Good Eats & Drinks

Editors’ Choice

Kaiser’s Sundae

A mountain of whipped cream and a cherry or two make sweetly appealing additions, but the foundation for this whopper of a classically delicious treat is the homemade ice cream. Pick your favorite flavors and augment them with elements like a soft brownie, chunks of ground Oreos, rich hot fudge, raspberry sauce … with the “create your own” option, a vast array of tempting options are your building blocks. The result can fill diners of any age with childlike glee, and not to sound shallow, but: sometimes bigger is better.


Most Anticipated New Neighbor
 

FlashBack RetroPub

Last we heard, this ’80s-themed bar is set to open in May; several of us are already stockpiling quarters in preparation. Because the place will offer more than a robust beer selection (including local brews), full bar, rotating assortment of primo food trucks and a soundtrack that should be thoroughly radical (it might even be gnarly to the max); FlashBack will house a fairly massive suite of old-school arcade-style video game cabinets – Asteroids, Dig Dug, Street Fighter II, NBA JAM and the like. If the promise of a beer and some pixelated mayhem after work sounds tempting, we’ll probably see you there. Just remember: We call dibs on Captain America and the Avengers.


Fassler Hall

Your mileage may vary on this one if you’re a vegetarian; otherwise there’s plenty to grab your interest at this Haus of German deliciousness. Try a warm, soft, buttery pretzel with a killer gouda sauce and sinus-clearing mustard, move on to sample a variety of exceptional house-made sausage (we were especially enamored of the Hunter, a mix of smoked venison, pork and buffalo) or the perfectly prepared schnitzel sandwich, wash it all down with a good selection of imported Bier – we had pilsner, dunkel and hefeweizen – and see whether you don’t feel better about life. The cheerful, wood-paneled Midtown gathering place even has a great soundtrack, and since location is key, bear in mind there’s a bowling alley in close proximity.


Readers’ Choice
 

► Best locally owned coffee shop
 

Cuppies & Joe

727 NW 23rd St Oklahoma City, OK 73103 
405.528.2122
cuppiesandjoe.com


Braum’s
 

16 locations in the metro
braums.com


O Bar at Ambassador Hotel
 

1200 N Walker Ave Okahoma City, OK 73103
ambassadorhotelcollection.com/oklahomacity/


Republic Gastropub
 

5830 N Classen Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73118 
405.486.4577
republicgastropub.com


Bricktown Brewery

3 locations in the metro
bricktownbrewery.com


Coop Ale Works

4745 Council Heights Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73179 
405.842.2667
coopaleworks.com


Bin 73

7312 N Western Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73116 
405.843.0073
bin73.com


Edna’s

5137 N Classen Cir Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.840.3339
ednasokc.com


Jimmy’s Egg

10 locations in the metro
jimmysegg.com


Cheever’s

2409 N Hudson Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73103
405.525.7007
cheeverscafe.com


Café 501

5825 NW Grand Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.844.1501
cafe501.com


Café 7

2 locations in the metro
405.748.3354
cafe7okc.com


Revolve Pizza Kitchen

5500 W Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73142
405.792.2858
revolvepizza.com


Charleston’s

6 locations in the metro
ehsrg.com/charlestons/home


Ranch Steakhouse

3000 W Britton Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73120
405.755.3501
ranchsteakhouse.com


La Baguette

3 locations in the metro
labaguettebistro.com & labaguette.com


Big Truck Tacos

405.525.8226
bigtrucktacos.com


Redrock Canyon Grill

9221 Lake Hefner Pkwy
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
405.749.1995
ehsrg.com/redrock/home


Vast

333 W Sheridan Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.702.7262
vastokc.com


IHOP

5 locations in the metro
ihop.com


Nic’s Grill

1201 N Pennsylvania Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
405.524.0999


Nonna’s


S&B’s Burger Joint

3 locations in the metro
sandburgers.com


Earl’s Rib Palace

6 locations in the metro
earlsribpalace.com


Hideaway Pizza

6 locations in the metro
hideawaypizza.com


Pearl’s

5641 N Classen Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.848.8008
funfresh.com/pearls-oyster-bar


Cattlemen’s

1309 S Agnew Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405.236.0416
cattlemensrestaurant.com


Sushi Neko

4318 N Western Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.528.8862
sushineko.com


Coolgreens

5 locations in the metro
coolgreens.com


 Red Cup

3122 N Classen Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.525.3430
theredcupokc.com 


Zorba’s

6014 N May Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405.947.7788
zorbasokc.com


Diversions

Editors’ Choice

Riversport Rapids

The state-of-the-art RIVERSPORT Rapids whitewater rapids and kayaking center beckons us to throw caution to the wind and go with the flow in 2016. While other MAPS 3 projects like new sidewalks and a streetcar line have great utility, they lack the adrenaline-fueled, heart-racing appeal of a bracing splash of water in your face. The addition to the Boathouse District is under construction now in a $45+ million effort, bringing a world-class training facility combined with a fun family-friendly endeavor to the shores of the Oklahoma River.


Best Outing for Three Generations to Share
 

OKC Dodgers Game

Some of my most treasured childhood memories are of the summer evenings when my grandpa would take me and my brothers to an ’89ers game at the Fairgrounds. We’d have stadium footlongs, ice cream or soft drinks, and when we invariably got tired of sitting in the stands to watch the game, we’d retire to the grassy hill behind the outfield where tag was a perfectly acceptable game-time pursuit for those small fries with short attention spans. It’s time for a new generation to make those memories at a game of the recently renamed OKC Dodgers at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.


OKCTalk.com

www.okctalk.com

Keeping abreast of the latest developments around the metro is an integral part of the job, and even if it wasn’t, the content on the fascinating OKCTalk.com would suck us in. A quick visit to the site will plug you into a network of local aficionados who make it their mission to know what’s going down. Sometimes the discussion gets heated, as any online forum with healthy attendance does, but it’s all part of the experience. The only problem with the site is that it’s just too interesting to stop at just one look … one thread leads to another, then another, and before you know it, two hours have passed and your original pursuit is long forgotten.


Readers’ Choice

IAO Gallery

706 W Sheridan Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.232.6060
iaogallery.org


Oklahoma City Museum of Art

415 Couch Dr
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.236.3100
okcmoa.com


Festival of the Arts

April 21-26, 2015
artscouncilokc.com


Civic Center Music Hall

201 N Walker Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.297.2584
okcciviccenter.com


Lyric Theatre

1727 NW 16th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
405.524.9312
lyrictheatreokc.com


Oklahoma City Ballet

7421 N Classen Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405.843.9898
okcballet.com


Festival of the Arts

April 21-26, 2015
artscouncilokc.com


OKC Memorial Marathon

April 26, 2015
okcmarathon.com


Chesapeake Energy Arena

100 W Reno Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.602.8700
chesapeakearena.com


Grand Casino Hotel & Resort

777 Grand Casino Blvd
Shawnee, OK 74804
405.964.7777
grandresortok.com


Warren Theater

1000 S Telephone Rd
Moore, OK 73160
405.735.9676
warrentheatres.com


OKC Thunder Basketball

nba.com/thunder/


Oklahoma City Zoo

2101 NE 50th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
405.424.3344
okczoo.com


Grand Casino

777 Grand Casino Blvd
Shawnee, OK 74804
405.964.7777
grandresortok.com


Boathouse District

725 S Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
405.552.4040
boathousedistrict.org


Home


Bricktown

bricktownokc.com or welcometobricktown.com


Skirvin Hotel

1 Park Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.272.3040
skirvinhilton.com


Arcadian Inn

328 1st St Edmond, OK 73034
405.348.6347
arcadianinn.com


Artesian Hotel

1001 W 1st St
Sulphur, OK 73086
855.455.5255
artesianhotel.com


Beavers Bend State Park

435 OK-259A Broken Bow, OK 74728
580.494.6300
beaversbend.com


Gotta Love Those Okies

Editors’ Choice
 

Horse Thief by Doug Schwarz


Horse Thief

Sharing a far more ethereal and shimmering sound than their down-and-dirty name would suggest, Horse Thief (Cameron Neal, Alberto Roubert, Cody Fowler, Zach Zeller and Alex Coleman) has Texas roots but came together as a band right here in OKC under the tutelage of ACM@UCO. 2014 was a banner year, considering that they played over 200 shows in 9 different countries and released their first full-length album “Fear in Bliss,” but we wouldn’t mind seeing the psych-tinged indie rockers steal a bit more of the music scene spotlight – catch their set in the Norman Music Festival April 24 and hear why for yourself.


Russell Westbrook by Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images, Provided by the Oklahoma City Thunder


Russell Westbrook

Get it? Because he BROKE HIS FACE and only missed one game while blazing through an MVP-caliber season despite leading a lineup of walking wounded, including last year’s MVP KD. This is a man who had his third knee surgery less than a year and a half ago and is still one of the fastest players in the NBA; who broke his hand at the beginning of this season and is still among the league’s premier ball-handlers; who shrugged off a nickel-sized dent in his cheek to rack up a 4th straight triple-double (a feat not done since 1989, by a fella named Michael Jordan). Called things like “inhuman,” “half-man, half-rocket ship” and “Point Godzilla,” we’ve seen him carry the team time and again by sheer force of will, and win or lose he rarely fails to amaze.


Readers’ Choice
 

Mayor Mick Cornett


Kevin Durant


Aubrey McClendon


Infant Crisis Services

4244 N Lincoln Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405.528.3663
infantcrisis.org


Miki Farris, Infant Crisis Services


Shopping

Editors’ Choice
 

Trader Joe’s coming to OKC

Are they or aren’t they? Yea or nay? It seems like the last time a chain rumored to open got this much traction, we ended up with the long-awaited, much-revered Whole Foods in Classen Curve. Now, another grocery may (or may not) be settling in to the loving bosom of our arms just a few blocks north. A Tulsa location has been confirmed by TJ’s management and it seems OKC is not far behind, if the rumors are to be believed. Let’s all cross our fingers …
the Cookie Butter is running low.


Best Browsing of Curated Collections (Tie)
 

All-Star Comics

All-Star Comics is a favorite for comic and graphic novel enthusiasts to explore the wall-to-wall offerings. From the latest superhero fresh from the big screen and collector’s back issues to action figures and interesting t-shirts, you can find something that needs to come home with you on every visit with Norman and his staff.


Sara Kate Studios

If your predilection runs more to feathering your nest, head downtown where globe-trotting shop-mistress Sara Kate fills her eponymous space with items big and small amassed during her travels. Walking through the store is a feast for the senses, and it’s a challenge to know where to start. High-quality vintage, antique, quirky, unique, interesting finds, textures, smells … all have a place here. Plan to take some time to meander and let your mind wander through the possibilities.

 


Reader's Choice
 

23rd Street Antique Mall

3023 NW 23rd St
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
405.947.3800
antiques23.com


Full Circle Bookstore

50 Penn Place
1900 Northwest Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.842.2900
fullcirclebooks.com


Schlegel Bicycles

900 N Broadway Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.232.4040
schlegelbicycles.com


Bob Moore Auto Group

15 locations in the metro
bobmoore.com


Mathis Brothers Furniture

3434 W Reno Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
405.943.3434
mathisbrothers.com


BC Clark Jewelers

3 locations in the metro
bcclark.com


Crest

8 locations in the metro
crestfoodsok.com


Mister Robert Fine Furniture & Design

109 E Main St
Norman, OK 73069
405.321.1818
misterrobert.com


New Leaf Florist

2 locations in the metro
newleafflorist.net


Green Bambino

5120 N Shartel Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.848.2330
green-bambino.com


Five & Company

335 S Mustang Rd Suite F
Yukon, Oklahoma 73099
405.494.7405
fiveandcompany.com


Dillard’s

3 locations in the metro
dillards.com


Uptown Kids

5840 N Classen Blvd #3
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
405.418.8881
uptownkidsstyle.com


Blue 7

7518 N May Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405.604.5199
myblueseven.com


Metro Shoe Warehouse

2 locations in the metro
metroshoewarehouse.com


Bad Granny’s Bazaar

1759 NW 16st St
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
405.528.4585


YMCA

17 locations in the metro
ymcaokc.org


Jonathan Bolding, Zone 4 Fitness

5500 W Memorial Rd,
OKC 73142
405.246.9663

Scott Do, Do It Rite Fitness

10964 N May Ave,
OKC 73120
405.286.0454


Soul Yoga

8028 N May Ave #110
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
405.242.4157


Dr. Robert Stepp, Deaconess Family Care

11101 Hefner Pt Rd, Ste 105
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405.751.5555
deaconessphysicians.com


Dr. Nathan Guilford Toothbrusher’s Dental

4534 NW 50th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73122
405.789.6935
toothbrushers.com


Dr. Jeff Baggett

200 N Sooner Rd # B,
Edmond, OK 73034
405.341.8884
jeffbaggettdds.com


Dr. Tim Love

405.751.5683
drtimlove.com


Chad Taber

 Salon W
7304 N Western Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405.608.0692


Sharon Tabb

sharontabb.com


Jason Sims

Choppers Hair Design
6748 NW 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008
405.789.2432


Salon W

7304 N Western Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405.608.0692


Cottonwood Salon & Spa

35 E 33rd St Edmond, OK 73013
405.340.1700
cottonwoodsalonspa.com


Polished Nail Salon

2 locations in the metro
polishednailsok.com


Revel8

201 NW 10th St. Suite #125,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
405.702.1688
reveleight.com


Polished Nail Salon

2 locations in the metro
polishednailsok.com


Midtown Vets

231 NW 10th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
405.606.4477
midtownvets.com